HIV case spurs call for porn production moratorium

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An adult film industry organization has declared a temporary industry-wide production moratorium after a performer tested positive for HIV.

Free Speech Coalition CEO Diane Duke says "confirmatory tests are not yet back but we are taking every precaution to protect performers and to determine if there's been any threat to the performer pool."

"It's scary because I care about everyone in my business and we're a really tight knit community, but statistically, I'm personally not extremely concerned," adult film actress and recent UCLA graduate Tasha Reign told Eyewitness News via Skype.

The industry's requirement to tests for STD's every 14 days works, according to Reign.

"I'm safer than any friend I know that is in my personal life outside of pornography," Reign said.

Last year, the industry shut down for a time after several porn stars, including Cameron Bay, contracted HIV outside of filming.

"You don't really mean much except if you're a liability to them and their money-making," Bay said.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation released the following statement Thursday: "How many more infections will it take before the industry will follow the law on condom use? Don't we ever learn?"

Sacramento lawmakers recently put on hold legislation that would require all performers statewide to wear condoms while filming.

Back in 2012, voters in L.A. County passed a similar law and its had a major impact on production.

Recently, the head of Film L.A. told Eyewitness News the number of permits for adult films in L.A. County went from 480 in 2012 to just 40 in 2013, that's a 90 percent drop.

At the time, Steve Hirsch, the president of Vivid Entertainment, said he's stopped filming in L.A. County altogether.

"The actors don't want to use condoms, the companies don't want them, the fans don't want to see condom movies necessarily," Hirsch said.

"In over a decade, nothing has ever been spread on an adult set," Reign said. "It's disheartening that this is something that's even coming up."

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed to Eyewitness News Thursday that an HIV test has been reported as positive from an adult film star.

"Should this case be confirmed, it will be investigated according to routine protocol, which includes interviews with named sexual partners within Los Angeles County, and follow-up efforts with any other involved jurisdictions if necessary," the statement read.